Loading ramp for hand trucks



H. E. s'oREF LOADING RAMP FOR HAND TRUCKS Filed March 19, 1940 Patented Dec. 31, 1940 PATENT OFFICE LOADING RAMP FOR, HAND TRUCKS Harry E. Soref, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to Master Lock Company, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application March 19,

8 Claims.

This invention relates to a portable ramp intended for use with hand trucks, particularly in connection with standardized conditions, as, for example, in the loading of such trucks in a factory at certain regular stations, and with certain standardized forms of loads. One object of the invention is to simplify and facilitate the loading or unloading of a hand truck by supporting it at a convenient elevation. Another object is to provide a support for a hand truck which will hold it stationary during the process of loading or unloading; and a further object is to reduce the fatigue incident to lifting loads onto or off from such a truck by providing auxiliary supporting means to elevate the truck platform to the most eflicient level. The invention consists in certain features and elements of construction in combination, as herein shown and described and as indicated by the claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portable ramp embodying this invention.

Figure 2 is a side view in perspective, showing the ramp with a hand truck supported thereon.

Figure 3 is a plan View of the ramp.

A two-wheeled hand truck, as commonly constructed, includes a load-supporting platform comprising side rails I, I, terminating in handles 2, 2, as seen in Figure 2, and connected by crossmembers 3. The wheels 4 are usually so small that the platform thus formed by the rails I and cross-bars 3 is supported quite close to the floor or ground level, so that even when it is provided with auxiliary legs on which the platform may rest at a level position, it requires a considerable amount of stooping and bending to load or unload boxes or packages from the truck. The present invention provides a portable inclined ramp which may be placed wherever convenient adjacent the loading station, such as a platform, bench or table, so that the hand truck may be run up onto the ramp in preparation for the loading or unloading process, and will be supported at a proper level to permit of eflicient handling of its load.

Figure 1 shows the ramp as consisting of side rails I0, I0 having lateral guard flanges II, II- and connected at their lower ends by a cross-bar I2. The rails are supported in inclined position and include terminal portions I3, I3, which are substantially level, and may be connected by a cross-member I4. The terminal sections l3 and cross-member I4 are secured to a three-sided support of sheet metal comprising an end wall I5 and side walls I6, tapered downwardly and in- 1940, Serial No. 324,819

tegrally joined, as by casting or welding, to foot plates II. Thus, when the truck wheels 4 are rolled up the inclined rails I0 and onto the level portions I3, the elevation of the truck platform from the floor is increasedby the height at which the track sections I3 are carried by the supporting structure of the ramp.

To hold the truck in this position the ramp includes pockets I8 secured to the outer faces of the guard flanges I I at opposite sides of the ramp, and positioned to receive the supporting legs of the truck when its Wheels 4 rest on the level portions I3. As shown, the legs consist of converging brace members I9 connected to a foot plate 28,

the latter being disposed at about the same distance below the truck platform as the lower side of the wheel 4. Extensions 2| are bolted to the foot plates 28 to increase the length of the legs when the truck is used in conjunction with the portable ramp embodying this invention, or, in any case, if the truck is not required to stand with its platform level when supported directly on the floor by its Wheels and the legs. It may be understood that if it were desirable to have the legs shorter, as, for example, to make them terminate at the plates 28, the pockets I8 could be secured at more elevated positions in relation to the inclined rails II], II) so as to carry the truck platform at a level position; but, in general, it is more convenient to have the pockets disposed within the vertical height of the guard rails II, I I, as shown in the drawing.

Thus, when the truck is rolled up along the inclined rails ID, ID its wheels 4 are arrested by the upper portion I5 of the end wall I5 acting as a stop flange, and with the wheels at this position the legs of the truck will register with the pockets I8 so that when they are lowered into the pockets the truck will be held against longitudinal movement by the pockets I8 and against lateral movement by the portions of the flanges II adjacent to level sections I3 of the rails I0, and just inside the side plates I6 of the support. At this position the truck will stand safely until loaded or unloaded, and may then be readily disengaged from the pockets I8 merely by lifting up on the handles 2 and then drawing it down the rails l0.

It will be readily appreciated that with this comparatively light and portable auxiliary support the handling of material in factories and warehouses by means of hand trucks may be greatly facilitated. The construction of the portable ramp, as shown, is quite simple, involving merely the welding together of angle sections and easily out parts of sheet metal, so that its cost may be comparatively low. And wherever the trucks already in use are constructed with relatively short legs, terminating in foot plates, as seen in Figure 2, the extensions 21 may be added very easily to adapt the trucks to use with ramps made in accordance with this invention. While there is shown and described herein certain specific structure embodying the invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modifications and re-arrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and that the same is not limited to the particular form herein shown and described, except in so far as indicated by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A ramp for a hand truckcomprising an inclined runway for the wheels of the truck and rests for the legs of the truck laterally adjacent said inclined runway, said rests being disposed at an elevation for supporting the platform of the truck in a substantially level position.

2. A ramp for a hand truck comprising an elevated section for the wheels of the truck, an inclined approach leading to said section and rests for the legs of the truck laterally adjacent said inclined approach and spaced from the elevated section, said rests being disposed at an elevation for supporting the platform of the truck in a substantially level position.

3. A ramp for a hand truck comprising an elevated section for the wheels of the truck, an inclined approach leading to said section and upwardly open pockets for the legs of the truck laterally adjacent said inclined approach and spaced from the elevated section, said pockets being disposed at an elevation for supporting the platform of the truck in a substantially level position and serving also to check the truck against longitudinal movement on the ramp.

5. A ramp for a hand truck comprising a pair of rails spaced apart to receive the wheels of the truck and provided with lateral guard flanges, said rails including elevated terminal sections and inclined approaches leading thereto, and rests for the legs of the truck secured to the outer faces of said guard flanges respectively and spaced longitudinally from the elevated terminals, said rests being disposed at an elevation for supporting the platform of the truck in a substantially level position.

6. In the combination defined in claim 5, a support for the elevated ends of the rails comprising an end wall and side walls, the side walls being secured to the guard flanges of said rails and the end wall projecting above the wheel-supporting surfaces of the rails to serve as a stop, limiting movement of the wheels on the ramp in one direction.

7. In combination with a hand truck having a load-carrying platform with wheels adjacent one end and] legs spaced longitudinally from said wheels, the legs extending, farther below the platform than the wheels, a ramp for supporting said truck in elevated position comprising an elevated section for the wheels of the truck, an inclined approach leading to said section, and rests for the legs of the truck laterally adjacent said inclined approach and spaced longitudinally from the elevated section, said rests being disposed at a level below that of the elevated section for supporting the platform of the truck in a substantially level position.

8. In combination with a hand truck having a load-carrying platform with wheels adjacent one end and legs spaced longitudinally from said wheels, the legs extending farther below the platform than the wheels, a ramp for supporting said truck in elevated position comprising an elevated section for the Wheels of the truck, an inclined approach leading to said section, and pockets for the legs of the truck laterally adjacent said inclined approach and spaced longitudinally from the elevated section for supporting the platform of the truck in a substantially level position and checking the truck against longitudinal movement by engagement of the legs in said pockets.

HARRY E. SOREF. 

